Automatic vent locking means



Jan. 10, 1961 M. ABELSON AUTOMATIC VENT LOCKING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1959 INVENTOR. MAURlCE ABELSON, BY

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ATTORNEY IZ/ a I III Jan. 10, 1961 M. ABELSON 2,967,334

AUTOMATIC VENT LOCKING MEANS Filed Sept- 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F G. 3. INVENTOR. MAURKIE ABELSON,

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A TTURNEY n- 1961 M. ABELSON 2,967,334

AUTOMATIC VENT LOCKING MEANS Filed -Sept-- 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BYgznm Q .41- romvs Y AUTOMATIC VENT LOQKING MEANS Maurice Abelson, Miami, Fla., assignor to Crossly Window Corp., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Sept. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 841,503

1 Claim. (CI. 20-42) This invention relates to window devices and particularly-to that type of window device commonly recognized in the industry as an-awning type window and that is composed of a plurality of horizontally pivoted and vertically swinging sash that are movable to and from an overlapping relation with respect to each other and an overlapping relation with respect to a supporting frame.

Window devices of the above noted character have generally had one outstanding fault, such being the absence of any definite locking means for the several sash that prevents unauthorized movement of the sash outwardly by the use of a tool or other device that is capable of prying the vents open. It being understood that this is such to a certain extent due to the fact that all are relatively long and flexible and that are not capable of maintaining the sash fully closed and sealed against movement to a limited degree.

The invention contemplates individual latch members for each end of each of the sash and with the several latch members being controllable by a lower latch memer and, with the :lower'latch member having cam surfaces that lie in thepathof a pin carried by the conventional crank arms embodied in the sash closingmechanism and wherebythe crank arms when movable inwardly in a closing'movement of the sash, earns the lower latch device upwardly and through the medium .of a connected operator bar between-the superposed lock devices, the locking devices are simultaneously shifted upwardly so that a locking recess is presented .to receive pins carried by the sash when the sash are moved to substantially the fully closed position and, with the lower latch devices being additionally carnmed downwardly when the sash have reached their approximate closed position, so that the lower latch devices are forced downwardly carrying the upper latch devices also downwardly and forcing all of the latch devices simultaneously into locking engagement with the pins carriedby the ends of the sash.

The latching devices as above noted also function to be automatically shifted to a release position from the pins of the sash upon the start of the swinging move ment of the cranks to move the several sash to an open position, such initial release of the latching devices being necessary and, it should be understood that the initial movement of the cranks and their cam actuating pins permits the cranks totravel a distance capable of camming the lower lock devices upwardly prior-to the movement of the vents outwardly.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein has-been illustrated a preferred form of the invention and wherein like characters -of reference are employed to denote like :parts throughout the several figures.

2,967,334 Patented Jan. id, 19 61 In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an outer face view of a window structure embodying the invention and with parts being shown in section for sake of clearness,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and with the sash being shifted to the open position,

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3, but illustrating the window and associated parts in the fully closed and latched position,

Figure 5 is a partially diagrammatic illustration illustrating the actuating pin of the crank arms in its initial engaging position with the lower latch members to bias the latch members to a latching position with respect to the sash,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a lower actuating latch member and,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of upper latch members.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a metallic frame, that includes jamb forming members 6, a sill member 7 and a connecting header (not shown) and whereby the several members are assembled to form an open frame. The several frame members are preferably extruded from aluminum, due to its light weight andresistance to rusting or corrosion. The several members each are provided with an inner stop 8, forming an inner circumferential abutment for inner frame members 9 of sash frames id and with the frames 10 having circumferential flanges 11 that overlie and abut reveal portions 12 of the frame members and whereby to effectively weather the sash with respect to the frame when in the fully closed position. Each of the frame members are of channel form, embodying parallel walls 6' and 6a, that are connected by an inner right angle wall 6b. The channels of the several members are outwardly opening and are normally covered by the sash frames 10, when the sash are shifted to theclosed position.

Each of the sash, of which there may be any desirable number, are pivoted in a horizontal manner to swing outwardly toward and from the frame, such being conventional construction. Each of the sash at their opposite ends carry hinge elements 3 at their upper ends and with the hinge element 13 being pivotally connected at 14 to operator bars 15 that lie closely adjacent to the outer Wall 6a. The bars 15 are vertically slidable under the influence of links 16, that are pivotally connected at 17 to the bars 15 and also pivotally connected at 18 to crank arms 19, it being understood that the structure is duplicated at the opposite sides of the window. The crank arms -19 are keyed or otherwise fixed upon a rock shaft 20 that is horizontally disposed through the sill member 7 and journaled at its opposite ends in any desirable manner. In conventional windowdevices, the rock shaft is actuated under the influence of a conventional geared operator, not shown. The several sash are fulcrumed to swing in a vertical arc to open and closed positions, by fulcrum bars 21, shown fragmentarily in Figure 1. The mechanism so far described is conventional with that type of window commonly known as awning windows and does not constitute a part of the present invention. Each of the sash 1d upon their opposite ends, are-provided with projecting pins 22, while the cranks 19 are provided with inwardly projecting pins 23 that are somewhat spaced from the pivots l8 and offset to one side with respect to the center lineof the cranks.

Slidably engaged with the inner surface of the wall 6' of each jamb member, are actuating bars 24. The bars 24 are guided in a vertical sliding movement, by a plurality of guide bearings 25, extending through slots 26 at predetermined spaced points throughout the height of the bars. The bearings 25 are preferably nylon, to substantially reduce friction. Each of the bearings 25 have overlying outer end plates 27 that lightly bear against the faces of the bars to impart a slight degree of friction that is calculated to maintain the bars in their shifted position against accidental sliding.

Fixedly connected with the bars 24, adjacent their lower ends as by riveting, are actuating latch plates 28. The latch plates 28 are each provided with diagonal slots 29, that are forwardly opening and that are normally disposed in the path of movement of the pin 23 carried by the cranks 19. The slots 29 constitute a cam groove for the pins 23 and through the medium of which, the bars 24 are shifted in a vertical manner. The upper wall of the slots 29 terminates in a forward arcuate cam face 39. The lower wall of the slot 29 terminates in a rounded cam face 31 that in turn, terminates in a downwardly extending tongue 32. The tongue 32 upon its rear face is angled upwardly and inwardly at 33, to terminate in a transverse groove 34 that constitutes a seat and the locking means for the pins 22 of the lower sash. It will therefore be apparent, that when the cranks 19 are swung outwardly to open the several sash, the pins 23 will cam upon the upper wall of the slot 29,such action forcing the latch 28 and the bar 24 upwardly and, when the pin 23 leaves the slot 29, the latch 28 and the bar 24 will be shifted upwardly a sufficient distance to disengage the pins 22 and to permit the several sash to be swung outwardly. The initial movement of the cranks 19 will first shift the latches 28 upwardly to release the pins 22 of the lower sash and as the cranks are swung outwardly, the continued upward movement will shift the latch upwardly a distance capable of moving the tongues 32 out of the line of movement of the pins 22. In the closing movement, the cranks are swung inwardly, simultaneously actuating all of the sash and, as the pins 23 have camming engagement with the rounded surface 31, the bars are shifted downwardly and at the initial point of closing, the pins 22 of the sash are substantially in line with the beveled surface 33 of the tongues 32. Thus, as the cranks are continued in their inward movement, the pins 23 cam upon the lower wall of the slot 29, causing the bevel face 33 of the hooks 32 to engage over the pins 22 to additionally cam them inwardly and at the maximum movement of the cranks, the pins 23 will be disposed in the upper end of the slots 29, as indicated in Figure 4 and with the pins 22 fully seated within the grooves 34, effectively locking the sash against any unauthorized opening movement. Should the bars 24 accidentally shift downwardly, due to vibration, while the sash are in the open position, the pins 23 will then strike against the arcuate face 30 of the latches 28, camming the latches upwardly until the pin 23 enters the slot 29. The beveled face 33 of the tongues 32 likewise functions to engage the pins 22, should there be any slight play in the sash and that would effectively pull the sash inwardly by the overriding engagement with the pins .22.

Since it is customary to produce awning type windows with multiple sash, it follows that additional latch devices must be employed for each of the superposed sash. For this purpose, upper latch plates 25 are riveted or otherwise connected to the bars 24 to extend forwardly for engagement with the projecting pins 22 of the upper sash. Each of the latches 35 have a forward tongue 36 that is inwardly beveled or rounded at 37, as a guide or camming means for the pins 22 of the adjacent sash. The bevel portions 37 extend upwardly to communicatewith a seat or groove 38. The several latches 35 are movable in unison with the latches 28 and, the bevel 37 functions to engage the pins 22 of the adjacent sash to ca it inwardly and to guide the pins into the seat 38.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of latch device has been provided for awning type windows. The structure is simple, has few and easily installed parts, is cheap to manufacture, is strong, durable and most effective as a means to securely latch the several vents in their closed position against unauthorized opening. The parts embodying the latches and the bar 24 are shiftable in a vertical plane and no parts, other than those embodied in the conventional window are pivotally supported.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claim. i

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A window construction comprising a frame including parallel sides and a connecting bottom, the frame being of channel formation and with the channels being outwardly opening, upper and lower sashes that are horizontally pivoted and that are movable into and out of the frame, vertically movable bars mounted upon one side wall of the channels of the parallel sides, hinge elements secured to the ends of the sashes adjacent their tops and pivotally connected to the bars, a rock-shaft in the bottom member of the frame, vertically swinging cranks fixed upon the rock-shaft, links pivotally connecting the upper ends of the cranks with the vertically movable bars, means to swing the cranks, a second vertically shiftable slide bar in each of the side members of the frame, upper and lower latch devices rigidly connected to the last named bars and movable therewith, the upper latches being near the lower ends of the upper sash and adjacent the sides of the same, the lower latches being near the lower end of the lower sash and adjacent the sides of the same, guide means for the vertical shifting of the second named bar, the upper and lower latches being moved in unison by the second named bars, the upper latches being provided with vertically arranged slots that open downwardly through a lower edge of the latches and that form sockets, each of the lower latches being provided with an upwardly directed diagonal slot having cam surfaces, the slot opening upon the forward edge of the latches, the lower latches also having a depending tongue and a socket adjacent to the tongue and that is downwardly opening, pins carried by the sides of the upper sash near its lower end and that are adapted to be engaged by the upper latches, pin secured to the sides of the lower sash near their lower ends for seating and locking engagement with the sockets of the lower latches, and pins secured to the cranks and adapted to enter the diagonal slots of the lower latches to cam the latches and the second named bars in a vertical path both upwardly and downwardly for receiving and disengaging the latches from the pins carried by the sash, the second named bars being slotted at spaced apart points in their height, pins extending through the slots of the bars and that are fixed into the first named frame, nylon bushings disposed over the pins and with the bushings having head portions that overlie the bars, the said nylon bushings constituting a non-frictional bearing for the sliding movement of the bars while the head portions overlying the bars prevent disengagement of the bars with respect to the bushings, the said slots of the second named bars being of a length that limit the upper and downward shifting movement of the bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,893,728 Tucker July 7, 1959 

